Never Mind the Attack; Nuke Plant Safe, Officials Say (Updated)

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Never Mind the Attack; Nuke Plant Safe, Officials Say (Updated)

Never mind the double-attack that put the security guard in the hospital. South Africa's main nuclear facility is perfectly secure, according to the National Energy Corporation of South Africa, or NECSA.

On November 8th Global Security Newswire notes, "two groups tried to storm the Pelindaba nuclear facility. Security guards were able to fend off one group following an exchange of gunfire, but the other intruders entered secure areas, stole a computer and shot an employee before escaping."

But after a tour of Pelindaba, theInternational Atomic Energy Agency inspectors determined that personnel at the site were "taking appropriate actions" and "no nuclear installation was (ever) under threat," said NECSA spokeswoman Chantal Janneker.

TheU.N. nuclear watchdog team added that "NECSA provides adequate protection for its nuclear installations [and] that NECSA has good practices in respect of its security system that should be shared with(other IAEA members)," Janneker said.

Sound reassuring. Me, I'm curious to hear what the IAEA actually said about the inspection; I'll let you know when I hear back from the agency.

In the meantime, "the South African NationalNuclear Regulator... has asked NECSA officials to conduct additional security patrols at Pelindaba, rotate its control room staffers and clear foliage to eliminate hiding places for possible intruders," according to the Newswire.

"The NNR remains concerned about the situation and has directed NECSA to implement additional security measures and undertake a comprehensive review of all current security provisions,"said National Nuclear Regulator spokesman Phil Nkwashu.

"Furthermore, similar oversight measures will be undertaken at other South African nuclear facilities where it is deemed necessary," he said.

*His agency has reviewed evidence that "points to negligence on the part of some of the NECSA security personnel," Nkwashu said. A number of security workers at Pelindaba were suspended while NECSAofficials investigated the incident. "NECSA has initiated disciplinary action against the staff members concerned," Nkwashu said. *

**

UPDATE: The IAEA "team reported that there was no evidence that sensitive nuclear areas were under any threat at any time during the incident," the agency says.

It also said that a security upgrade plan at Pelindaba, that began to be implemented by the facility's operator in 2006, provides an "appropriate basis" for ensuring physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear facilities at the site.